SPU Men's Run of Playoff Appearances Snapped at Five
March 10, 2003

SEATTLE (Mar. 10) -- After 36 hours of being perched on the bubble, Seattle Pacific University learned Monday that it's men's basketball team did not earn an NCAA Division II tournament bid. The Falcons, who have gone to the playoffs each of the last five seasons, finished 16-11 following Saturday night's 105-102 loss to Central Washington.

Seattle Pacific, under first-year coach Jeff Hironaka, rebounded from a 6-6 start, rising to No. 6 in the West Region going into its final two games. The Falcons split those games, prompting a fall from the top eight which make the tournament. They have earned playoff bids eight of the previous nine years.

BYU Hawaii overtook Cal State San Bernardino in the final week to earn the No. 1 seed in the West Region and the right to host the eight-team tournament beginning Friday in Laie. The Seasiders (19-3) play Cal State Bakersfield (19-8), the No. 8 seed, in the first round. Other pairings are Cal State San Bernardino (21-6) vs. Sonoma State (18-9); Cal Poly Pomona (20-7) vs. Alaska Fairbanks (20-7) and Humboldt State (22-5) vs. Hawaii Hilo (18-9).

SPU has split with both Alaska Fairbanks and Humboldt State, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference co-champions, this season. It loses six seniors to graduation, including top scorer Yusef Aziz (Sr., 6-4, Seattle, Wa./Foster).